Improvement in grain-cleaners



2 Shegts-Sheet 1.

G. GLAR K. GRAIN OLBANER.

m. 38,258. Patented Apr. 21, 1863.

Men or 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G.CLARK.

' GRAIN CLEANER.

Patented Apr. 21 1863.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CLARK, on sANDUSKLOHIO, Assrenon T0 HIMSELF AND ROBERT 'DUNBAR,or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-CLEANERS.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 38,258, dated April 21,1863.

.T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE CLARK, of Sandusky, in the State of Ohio,assignor to myself and ROBERT DUNBAR, of Buflalo, New York, haveinvented an Improved Grain- (Jleaning Machine; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact in the supply-tube, .andspreads the grain evenly and uniformly into a thin sheet to be actedupon by a eurreiit of air.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

I make an outer cylindrical case or shell of sheet metal, which isrepresented at A', andan inner cylindrical case or shell, which isrepresented at A, leaving an annular suction airspace between them, asshown at B. These cylinders'or shells may be of any required diameterand height.

The drawings are on a scale of about threeeighths of an inch to thefoot.

Within the inner cylinder or shell I place a conical distributer, asshown at G, the apex C of which is made automatic by means of thespindle D and spring E. The spindle D is supported upon the cross platesM N, and

the coil-spring E surrounds the spindle between these plates.

Gent-rally within the inner cylinder and directly over the apex of theconical distributer 1 place a grain-supply tube, F, the apex of the conepassing slightly into the mouth of the tube.

The fans-Gr are of ordinary construction and may be placed over 'thecylinders, as represented in the drawings, or they may be otherwiseplaced, the object to be gained being to produce a strong suctioncurrent of air up between thecylinders, as represented by the arrows 12.

H represents aspout, which conducts the grain from the elevator to thesupply-tube F.

T is a slide-valve, which may be raised or lowered by ordinary means, asdesired, in order to regulate the draft .of air.

Power is applied to the fans in a common manner.

This improvement is particularly calculated for use in connection withgrain' elevators ,but is applicable to. all places where grain is to becleaned. It possesses a greater capacity for cleaning grain, occupiesless room in a building, is cheaper of construction, and operates moreperfectly'than any other grain-cleaner now in use with which Iamacquainted.

. Operation: The grain is conducted from the elevator or other placethrough the spout H into the supply-tube F. The apex C willclose, ornearly so, the mouth of the tube when there is no grain in it. When thegrain accumulates in the tube to the amount of one or two bushels, (moreor less, according to the power of the spring 15,) the spring will yieldand lower the apex, so that the grain will pass out evenly over allparts of the apex and drop down upon the cone 0, and thence slide intothe annular space B in a thin and evenlyspread sheet where the air hasfull action upon it. The cone-apex O acts automatically, according tothe pressure of grain in the tube F, yielding more when the supply ofgrain is large and less when the supply is less, so as to insureaproportionately even supply of grain upon the cone 0, although the'grain may be delivered from the elevator into the supplytube F inannnsteady stream. As the grain drops from the cone into the annularspace B, the air has full power upon it, and the chess, chafl', dust,and light grain will be carried up by the strong current of air. overthe top of the inside cylinder and dive down, as shown by the arrows 34. The chafl' and dust will be carried up again by the'air into thechamber W, and thence out through the fan-case, while the chess andlight grain will drop down into the chess-box P, and thence be conductedoff through the spout Q. A hopper of ordinary construction may be placedat the bottom of the cylinders to catch the grain as it is cleaned,

from whence it may be taken in a eemmon manner. 7

This improvement accomplishes the object sought in the most satisfactorymanner.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The cylinders of shells AlA', arranged witha suction air-space, B,between them, in.

combinationwith the adjustable valve T, for the purposes andsubstantially as described.

I 2 The' cone-distributer' G and aut mat-ie cone-apex C, in combinationwith the cylinders or shells A A, andcentral grain-supply tube, F, forthepurposes and substantially as set ferth.

GEORGE OLARK.

Witnesses:

E. B. FORBUSH, W. H. FORBUSH.

